We received sad news that John Ross-Dugan passed away yesterday in Hawaii. John was a C-7 Quadriplegic and still doing what he loved... sailing his Hobie Getaway in the surf with friends when they apparently capsized. We are told that he was sailing with two crew and after the capsize, the mast came down. John was trapped under the boat. One of the sailors was a trained EMT, but was not able to revive him.

John was an accomplished Hobie Catamaran racer and even after a car accident at the age of 23, that caused the paralysis... continued to follow his passion for sailing.

Follows is a history of his sailing career (significant achievements) taken from US Sailing

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tideIs a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

He passed away doing what he loved, not many of us can say that. I watched my aunt sit in the hallway of a nursing home sitting in a wheel chair with stinky depends untill one day she didn't even know me anymore. Passed away several week later. Like I said we should all be so lucky...raise a cool one for our lost fellow sailor.

_________________06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

I was standing next to John's boat recently, setting up another, when a friend told be the story. I was sad at the time and even sadder now, hearing from his other friends.

I just missed the chance to meet John, and I regret that, but I can tell you that Kaneohe Bay is a magical place to sail and he must of been having the time of his life here. He was looked up to, by members of the club.